Weighing machine



Jan.. 16, 1923., f 1,442,399. A. H. GREEN.

WEAGHING MACHINE. l

FILED JAN. 22.1921.

rllllllllllrlIl/lllllllllll!f @f Mm Patented dan., i6, i923,

entre ANDRE H. GREEN, GF G-IICAG, XLLNOIS, ASSGNOR TO GREEN GAUGE COMPANY, 0F CHICG, LLENOS, A CRPGRATIGN 0F LLNG".

lEG-EENG TEACHINE.

Application led January 22, 1921.

To al?, flo/wm t may concern.'

Be itknown that l, ANDREW (Linsen, a citizen or the United States? residinfr it Chicago, in the county or flock, State o c l inois,l having invented certain new and user l linprovements in lVeiOhing liiacliines, do here` by declare that the iolloiving is a full, clear, and exact description of the My invention provides a device for Weighin' large quantities or liquid or semi-liquid materials that indicates in sequence without any change or adjustment oil1 parte the weights or' one or more such substances, eacl, with the saine or a dili'erent speeiiic gravity@ the resulting total of which aojives a couipounded Whole or' predetermined composition and of predetermined Weight, and one that i capable ci? successful use under all conditions Where sanitary rfactors or other considerations require the frequent cleaning or sterilizing or the parte coming in Contact with the materiala and under all conditions where the physical or chemical nature ci material to be weighed possesses poten ial possibilities or change when segregated from the main volume in the tanln or under any condition Where it is essential that the material shall not remain in any portion or' the Weighiin system for any appreciable length oi3 time; and under conditions or varying external atmospheric temperatures. and also Where the material is subject to varying! de pices ot' temperature.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent irom tl e disclosure et the various features and matters hereinaifter de iibed.

ln the accompifiving drawings.y l ze'. l a, View partly in s eleva-tion and partly in section or an apparatus embodyingthe reatnres or my invention;

Fig. 2 is a detail sectional View or the detachable sanitary pipe fitting shown in Fin'. l: and

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view showing the air-equalizing pet-cock in the pipe litting,

In the drawings the reference numeral l0 indicates a tank of suitable capacity to meet the requirements or' any particular installation, and its rounded bottom has a discharge pipe provided With a discharge valve 1l which is removable to permit the pipe and valve to he cleaned or sterilized.

In the practice of my invention a pressureoperated "Weight-indicating gauge is con-.

Serial No. 439,074.

neeted by a pipe-line to an opening1 in the bottoni or the tank, and this line is provided with a coi'itrol-va-ilve and with an air-equaldevice to ensure atmospheric press rc therein, and all oi its parts coming; into corr tact with `the liquid 'from the tanli constitute a separable pipe-lieting` which can be quickly and easily disassembled for cleaningv o1' sterilizing for sanitary purposes. ln the forni shown this pipe-line is connected to the tank ly means oit the outlet pipe l2 located at any s itaole point in the bottoni and provided with a cap and a side outsi to which the pipe detachably connected. by the roupling lo. l control valve l is provided, prei-ferabiy in a threaded socket H0 in the pipe l?, and this pipe at its outer end is d chably connected by a coupling` 18 to one er the lateral arms or the union 197 Which is in the 'forni or" an inverted cross having' its lower and outer arms closed by the pli or caps 2 and 2l, and .its upper arm prolonged to form a stand-pipe which is rigidly supported on a The upper by an airlegr o'tthe tank by brackets i the stand-pipe is connected t i .t ioint 524i with one lend oil which leads to the indical which may be located at any suitable The pipene is provided with an equalizer at the oottoni oi the tank For e using; tl e air pressure inside 'the .erstem i hat (waaide to prf ride etant-sonerie ce tions in the line bv ventina; or out excess air or fas impe n d in the stanl pipe or line liv the lilium sealing' its levier end when the valve l? is opened, or to equalize changes due to c-ztcrnal atnios- @auge se that it Will always start at its Zero reading or position when the .liquid iloivs into the pipe-line and at any subsequent time an equal or uniform pressure Will be obtained in the pipe-line for each Weighing operation. This equalizer determines the level in the tanlr at which the pressure begins and so enables the device to start the measurements or the hydrostatic pressure ot liquids in the tank at ay lixed point and to establish atmospheric equilibrium at this point at all times during the Weighing operations, and as the equaliser is located so that this denite point is Iat the bottom of the tank the pressure or any quantity or liquid therein is always indicated 'from the same point. ln the eXemplitication shown, the air-equalizer is in the term oli a petcock 26 `in the stand-pipe, `and preferably with. the base oi" its opening level with or tangential to the upper surface oi' the bore ot' the pipe l5 as clearly shown in il? The pet-cock may be placed higher in the stand-pipe, but it preferred to'locate it as above stated as then the liquid will not enter the pipe 22 above the cock `when the latter is opened ior the purpose of equal-ming` the air in the line as hereinafter explained and Will not enter this pipe tor any considerable dis tance above the cock when the latter is closed duringl the weighing opera-tion, so that the necessity ot' flushing or swabbiue out the upper portion oi? the stand-pipe to clean or sterilize it is obviated. The pet-cock is removable t'or cleaning or sterilizing.

The gauge is of any suitable type, and in the form shown consists ot a suitable mercury chamber 27 which is hermetically connected to the end of thc pipe and has a glass side arm or tube 28 which is openat its tree end and is set at a suitable inclination to retain the movement of the mercury Within its limits. The parts oi' the gauge are enclosed in a casing; 29, and a suitable scale plate 30 is slidably mounted on thecasing at one side of and parallel with the tube 2S, the casing` having;- a glass panel l1-through which the tube and plate may be observed and which is removable to allen7 the operator to have access to the plate when Calibrating the device. The gauges are made up according to the differentsizes of the tanks, and the scale plates are marked to indicate the weight oitl the liquid in terms et any desired unit.

In using` the device the chamber 27 is filled ivith suflicient mercury so that when it is extended to the full length ot the lat-eral tube there willv still be a portion ot' mercury in the chamber. i

rlhe procedure ot calibrating the apparatus is carried out as follows z--Thc tank is empty, the discharge valve 11 and pet-cock 26 are closed, and the control valve 17 is openedt and the pipe system between the tank and the mercury reservoir is consequently full of air; then a carefully weighed unlit of Water, say 10() pounds, is emptied into the tank. The valve 17 is then shut, pet-cock 26 is opened, and the liquid in the stand-pipe'QQ allowed to drain Yfrom the petcock until its flow' ceases, and the pet-cock 26 is then closed and the valve 17 opened.

'The liquid then seals the loiver end ot the stand-pipe 22 and the Weight ot this Water Will compress the air sealed in the pipe system and force the mercury to a slightly,

vhigher mark in the tube of the indicating;

gauge. The scale plate is then adjusted or marked by the operator to bring: its 100 iaaaeee pound mark into position in registej with the position of the meniscus oit the mercury in the tube lllhen this operation is completed the discharge valve 11 is opened andthe caps 13 and 20 removed to drain oli1 the Water in the tank and pipes; When the water is discharged the caps are replaced, the valve 11 and pet-cock are closed and the valve 17 is opened, When the apparatus is ready Jfor Weighing any liquid entering the tank. After the scale plate is once positioned or calibrated in this manner no further calibnatingis required as a uniform volume ot air is always present in the air line and each time the vat is emptied the mercury Will return to its Zero position, that the process ot filling thetank with a liquid, Weighing its contents and emptyin;v it can be repeated indefinitely.

The Weighing ot' any liquid is carried out as tollonfszmfter the device is calibrated on any desired unit in the manner above se-t forth, the discharge valve 11 and pet-cock 26 are closed, and the `valve 17 is opened. When a sutlicient quantity ol? liquidhas run in the tank to brinp; the mercury to at least the first readingr on the scale, valve 17 is closed and the pet-cock 26 opened allowing the liquid in stand pipe 2Q. to drain until its fioiv ceases; the pet-cock 26 is then closed and valve 17 opened. The gauge will then accurately indicate increasing or decreasing amounts or any given amount otliquid in the tank. Should any change in condition take place, such as hereafter described, the above procedure is repeated Which will again equalize the pressure and the accurate Weight will be indicated.

les the joint 2l is air-tight the air in the system cannot be compressed enough to allow the liquid to rise into pipe 25, so that when weighing; is completed the assembled parts may be disconnected and all. surfaces with which the liquid has come in contact may be cleaned or sterilized. The couplings 16 and 1S are disconnected,y the pipe 15 is detached. and the caps 13, 20 and 21 and the valve 17 and pet-cock 26 are removed, and then all parts that havebeen in contact with the liquid can be cleaned or sterilized, including the stand-pipe 22 which can be sivabbed out, as when the partsare disconnected its entire bottom is removed and opposite clean-out passages are provided by its lateral arms so that all its interior sun faces are readily accessible. The arrangement of the parts so they can be easily detached to be cleaned or sterilized is an adif'antage in this class ol:l devices `Where it is necessary to ensure sanitary conditions. such the connection 16 asjpossibleg' `this valve may be shut ofi' thus segrega Tg" the small amount ot liquidv 'v'.vliichis present in the weighing system from the mass inthe tank, and the segregated portion can be easily and immediately drained by removing the caps 2O and 21, and the stand pipe and its associated parts can be disassembled and cleaned, without disturbing the mass in the tank. This feature is advantageous under conditions where the liquid being treated, if allowed to stand in the exposed pipe system for a considerable length of time, would have a detrimental effect upon the main volume in the tank; tor example, it etten is necessary to hold for many hours a perish able liquid such as milk in tanks constructed to insure its preservation by high or low temperatures, and the liquid in the unheated or unrefrigerated trap or pipe would be exposed to atmospheric temperature thus allowing` bacterial multiplication which would contaminate the mass in the tank; also, in treating melted tats in a heated tank the corresponding` isolated portion would solidity at the atmospheric temperature to which it is exposed; and by this feature of my invention the exposed portion can be segregated and removed to elimina-te the source of contamination or infection in the first instance and the solidied fats in the second instance.

In order to obtain accurate weights and correct comparisons of successive batches it is essential that a uniform volume of air at atmospheric pressure be present in the weighing system at the start of each weighing operation. In the device shown the use of the petcock ensures and maintains a uniform volume ot air in the air-line which includes the stand-pipe, tube 25 and such portion of the mercury chamber as is not filled with mercury. The equalizing operation is as tollowsz-with the valve 11 and pet-cock 26 closed and the control valve 17 open the liquid is run in the tank, and then the valve 1'? is closed and the pet-cock opened to allow the liquid to run out the stand-pipeIuntil it uncovers the cock or ceases to run, thereby opening the air-line to the outside air and producing atmospheric pressure on both ends of the mercury column; as soon as this is accomplished, for example when the liquid ceases to flow out of the pet-cock, the latter is closed and the valve 17 is opened to allow the liquid to be weighed to act upon the airline and operate the gauge. In case there is not enough liquid in the tank to compress the air in the air-line enough to bring the level ot the liquid up to the pet-cock he operator will open both the valve 17 and the pet-cock 26 and leave them open until the liquid flows out of the latter when he will close the valve 17 and allow any liquid above the pet-cock to drain oil until the air-line is open to the atmosphere, and then the pet-cock is closed and the valve 17 is opened to allow the liquid to be weighed to act on the gauge. The

equalizing ot' the air pressure inside the system with that outside will take place before each batch is weighed, and may be done after the batch is run into the tank or while it is either running in or out, thus ensuring` an accurate weight at any given time during the operation. This always ensures initial atmospheric pressure in the weighing system. rlhis condition is essential where any part ot' the device is subjected to varying external temperatures or atmospheric conditions, or where there are variations in the temperature ot' the liquid being weighed, or any condition where the properties ot the liquid would tend to cause discrepancies in the pressure of the confined air or gas. is the lioint- 241C is air-tight there can be no escape of air when the apparatus is operating, there is uniform air pressure in the air-line and consequently uniform indications on the gauge, and as the pet-cock is located at the level ot the bottom of the tank it will be sealed by the liquid and it there is any leak in the pet` cock or in the pipe connections between the stand-pipe and tank it is merely a liquid leakage which is unimportant and does not aiifect the air pressure or the accuracy of the device, and so the apparatus is fool-proof even it the workmen are careless in assembling the detachable piping.

Various changes in details of construction ot the parts may be made without departing from the scope of my invention. The apparatus will weigh liquids irrespective ot variations in the specific gravity of the whole or any portion thereof without any change or adjustment of parts or any readjustment ot the specific gravity of the indicating liquid in the gauge, and when it is once calibrated it will automatically gir/'e the weights of the different liquid contents of the tank for an indefinite time as it does not require recalibrating, and its accuracy is not ai"4 tected by any changes or variations in the temperature of the liquids being weighed, or by extremes of temperature in the plant or to which any part of the apparatus may be subjected as Jfrom that of steam to below freezing. Further, the separable pipe-connections can be disconnected and disassembled for cleaning or sterilizing the parts that have been in contact with the liquid, and can be reassembled by unskilled labor without affecting the calibration of the gauge or its accuracy in subsequent weighing operations.

The present application is a continuation in part of my pending application filed June 9, 1920, Serial Number 387,534.

I claim:

1. vIn a device for indicating the weights of liquids, a tank having an outlet in its bottom, a weight-indicating pressure gauge, a pipe line between the gauge and tank outlet, a valve controlling the passage into the pipe line, and means beyond the valve to vent the pipe line to provide atmospheric pressure in the air therein above the liquid therein.

2. In a device for indicating the weights of liquids, a tank having an outlet in its bottom,`a stand pipe connected to the outlet, a valve controlling the passage into the stand pipe, a weight-indicating pressure gauge, a pipe-line between the gauge and stand pipe, and a vent-cock in the lower end of the stand pipe to provide atmospheric pressure in the pipe line above the liquid in the stand pipe.

3. In a device for indicating the weights of liquids, a tank having an outlet in its bottom, a stand pipe, a weight-indicating pressure gauge, a pipe line between the gauge and stand pipe, a pipe connecting the stand pipe and tank outlet, a control valve in said connecting pipe adjacent the tank outlet, and a ventcock in the stand pipe tangential to the top ot the inlet of the connecting pipe.

4. In a device for indicating the weights ofJ liquids, a tank having a lower outlet, a stand pipe, a weight-indicating pressure gauge, a pipe line between the gauge and stand pipe, and a detachable pipe-hitting between the stand pipe and tank outlet comprising a removable pipe having a removable control valve adjacent the tank outlet and connections for disassembling the parts coming in contact with the liquid.

5. In a device for indicating the weights of liquids, a tank having a lower outlet, a stand pipe, a weight-indicating pressure gauge, a pipe line between thegauge and stand pipe, a detachable pipe between the stand pipe and tank outlet, a detachable vent-cock near the lower end of the stand pipe, and a detachable valve in the detachable pipe, the latter pipe. its valve, the stand pipe and the cock being constructed to be disassembled and afford access to the parts coming in contact with the liquid.

6. In a device for indicating the weights of liquids, a tank having a lower outlet, a weight-indicating gauge, a pipe line between the gauge and tank outlet including` a stand pipe having clean-outs, a detachable vent cock in the stand pipe, an air pipe between the stand pipe and gauge, a removable pipe connected to the stand pipe and tank outlet by detachable couplings to disassemble the parts, and a removable valve in said pipe.

T. In a device for indicating the weights of liquids, a tank having an outlet pipe, a cap for the pipe, a stand pipe having a cap at its lower end, a weight-indicating pressure gauge a pipe line between the gauge and stand pipe, a detachable pipe connecting the stand pipe and outlet pipe, a control valve detachabljv mounted in the detachable pipe adjacent the tank outlet, and avent-cock detachably mounted in the stand pipe. l

8. In a device for indicating the weights of liquids, a tank having an outlet in its bottom, a weight-indicating gauge, a pipe line between the gauge and tank outlet, a valve adjacent the tank outlet to segregate the pipe line from the tank, and means to drain the liquid from the segregated line.

9. In a device for indicating the weights of liquids, a tank, a stand-pipe, a pipe between the stand pipe and tank, a gauge having a liquid chamber and a side arm open at its free end, an air line having one end connected to the chamber and its other end connect-ed to the stand pipe, a control valve in the pipe between the tank and standpipe, and a removable cap at the bottom of the stand-pipe to drain the liquid segregated by the valve from the mass in the tank.

10. In a device for indicating the weights of liquids, a tank, a stand-pipe consisting of a vertical pipe having an open bottom and opposite side outlets, a pipe connecting one of the outlets to the bottom of the tank, a gauge having a liquid chamber and a side arm open at its Jr'ree end., an airline having one end connected to the chamber and its other end connected to the top ot the stand-pipe, removable caps closing the other side outlet and bottom ot the standpipe, a removable vent-cock located in the stand-pipe at the bottom thereof, and a removable control valve in the pipe between the tank and stand-pipe.

ANDREV I'I. GREEN. 

